Tire inflater and tester.



` ENGSTROM.

TIRE INAFLATER AND TESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3,1916.

- Patented sept. 12,1916.

f s TESTING UNITED ysTriTEs PATENT oEEIcE.

FRANK H. ENGSTROM, OF CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS, PENNSYLVANIA.

TIRE INELATEE AND TESTER.

Specifica-tion of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application filed July', 1916. Serial No. 107,300.

-ments in Tire Infiaters and Testers; andv I do hereby declare the following to be full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to devices for inflating, and testing the air pressure in, the

punematic tires of vehicle road wheels; and it consists of a reversible device provided with suitable valves and connections for the air supply pipe and the pressure gage, said device being adapted to open the usual check-valve o n the tire, and being constructed as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a device constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

A small cylinder 2 is provided in a casing 13, and this cylinder has a port 3, and a branch or connection 4 on one side for the attachment of the rubber hose or inlating pipe of any approved form of airpump or other means for supplying compressed air. The cylinder also has upon one side ay pressure-gage 5 and a port 6 for connecting the pressure-gage with the cylinder. The pressure-gage shown is of the springpressed piston type, but any approved construction of pressure-gage may be used in carrying out this invention.

A. piston 7 is slidl ble in the cylinder 2, and is adapted to cover and uncover the ports 3 and 6 alternately. This piston is formed of hard rubber, or any other suitable material, and it is secured upon a piston-rod `S. The end lportions 10 and 12 of the piston-rod are smaller in diameter' than its middle portion, and they form stems for opening the check-valve on the tire. The check-valve on the tire isof any. approved make which can be opened byV pushing it inwardly, and a portion cfa check-valve is shown in dotted lines 9. r

Two valves 14 and. 15 are secured on the piston-rod Vat suitable distances` from the ends of the piston, and 16 and 17 are valveseats secured in thevmiddlerparts of chan).-

bers 18 and 19 formed in the casing 13 at the ends ot the cylinder 2.

Packing-rings 20- and 21 are secured in the outer ends of the -chambers-18 and 19,.

and are conical in shape and formed of india rubber or other similar material. The smaller ends of the conical packing-rings encircle the stems 10 and 12. The packingrings have ianges 22 which' are clamped against the ends of the casing 13 by similar caps 24, which are screwed over the end portions of the casing. Each cap has a central hole 26 large enough to pass over the tubular casing of the check-valve on the tire.

The tire is inflated by pressing-the stem 10 against the stem of the check-valve on the tire, the packing-washer or ring slipping over the tubular casing of the checkvalve and preventing the compressed air from leaking out. The stem 10 is pressed back by contact with the valve stem so that the piston 7 is retracted and it uncovers the port` 3. The compressed air is admitted through the port 3, the supply being regulated by a valve olfany approved construction on the air-'supply .pipe or hose.

The pressure of the air in the tire is tested by reversing the device and pressing the stem 12 against the stem of the check-valve in a similar manner. This retracts the .pis-

ton and places the pressure-gage 5 in comi munication with the tire through the port 6. The tire is first iniated and then tested, so that the deviceis normally left in a position in which the air supply valve 141 is closed, and the air doesnot escape if thel valve on the compressed air supply pipe is opened.

The caps on theJ ends ofthe device .are I marked in some suitable way, such as by the words Infiating and Testing being stamped upon them, so that they may be distinguished from each other. The caps valso preferably have rings 28 of soft manecting it with a pressure-gage and a compressed air supply, and having vai; its ends packing-rings adapted to engage With the casing of the check-*valve on the tire, and Valves Working in the casing and having projecting stems for placing the said check- Yalve in communication with the said compressed air Supply and pressure-gage altermately.

2. A reversible device for inlating and testing tires, comprisingl a casing provided with a cylinder having ports for communieatingy with a pressuregage and a conipressed air supply, a piston slidable in the said cylinder and closing the said ports alternately, said piston being provided at its ends With Stems for operating it and for opening the check-Valve on the tire, Valveseats secured in the end portions of the casing, valves secured on the said Stems and adaptedto close the said valve-seats alternately, and ,packing-rings secured to the ends of the casing and adapted to engage with the casing' of the said check-Valve. i

f3. ln a device of the character described, a .caeing provided with a cylinder having a lateral airport, and having also a chamber at one end., a Yal'feseat secured in the saidv chamber, a piston slid-able in the `cylinder and controlling the said port, said piston haring a stein which projects through the valve-Slat and is adapted to retract the piston and to open the check-valvel on the tirer` a, 'alrc secured to the said stem and adapted to Close the outlet through the Said Valve-seat, and a packing-ring Secured to the outer end of the casing around the end of the Said stem and adapted to engage with the casing of the said check-valve.

In testimony whereofl have aixed my signature.

FRANK H. ENGSTROM, 

